, 1887-06-11

xiii contained those where the flan1ents forn4
more than two bundles. Class XIX consists
of plants whose stamens are united, not by
the fIaments, as in the 8 classes just named,
but by the anthers. It is the same as the
Natural order of Composite plants, having
flowers like the sun-fower, which though
looking like a single flower is In reality q head
of minute flowers, or fOrets as they are term
ed, each of which will be found to have its
anthers united, forming a little tube; whilethe
flament below are quite separate from each
other. In Class XIX the stameus are united
with the pistil, SO as to seem to grow upon it.
The next three classes are based on quite
another popularity. In the classes so far con-
sidered the stsmens and pistils are always
found together in the same flower; we now
come to flowers where these organs are
found in different flowers, that is to say some
flowers carry pistils alone, and some carry
stamens alone. When both these kinds of
flowers are found on the came plant the
plant belongs to Linne's Glass xxi, which
is very we'll illustrated by the common
pumpkin. If we examine a pumpkin plant in
blossom we shall find two distinct kinds of
flowers, one kind bearing pistils, with the
young pumpkins CHE ovary) below, and the
other kind bearing stamens only. Bees carry
the pollen from the latter kind of flowers to
the former; but the fertilisation of the flower
may also be secured by cutting off the male
flowers, when the anthers ave burst, and
busting the pollen over the female flowers.
Some plants, however, have the male flowers
on one plant, the female on another, aud
these were made into Glass xxi, OF which the
papaw is a good example. Others again, be-
sides having the male and female flowers,
have ordinary flowers, including, that ig, sta
mems and pistils in the same flower, and these
plants formed Class xiii, the last class Of tho
Towering plants. All plants without flowers,
including ferns, MOSES, algB (ses weeds &c)
and fungi mushrooms &C. L;nn@us placed in
Class xiv.
The lecturer then went on to describe how
classes were divided into numerous orders,
chiefly depending on the numbers of the pis-
ills, but also, in some of the classes, on other
peculiarlties.
He then stated that the whole system,
though very ingenious, was, except in o few
of the classes, quite artificial, as it often
grouped together plants which were not as ell
similar except in regard to the mere numbers
of the stamens AMI pistils. It was still use
full as o key to the names of the plants, but
otherwise had been superseded by the Natu.
raj systems OF Jussieu, De Candolle and others.
These botanists had preserved Linneus's di-
vision of the vegetable kingdom into flower
ing and fowerless plants, rs also his divisions
of the latter. The Towering plants they had,
divided into two great groups, the first COM
ing up from the seed with two seed leaves.
the second with only one, the first growing
externally, that is by rings around the stem,
lust underneath the bark, the second growing
internally. These great groups were further
divided into Natural Orders, each including
a number of plants resembling each other in
several important particulars, shelving them
to be naturally related to each other. Each
Natural Order contained several kinds or ge-
nera, many of which Linn9as had al
ready established, and each genus contained
one or more species.
The lecture, which was illustrated by nu-
merous drawings, and by a number of speci.
mems of the red lily (Amaryllis equestris) was
concluded with some remarks on the pleasure
and profit of the study of plants.
A proposal by Mr.. H. B. Stubs, that the
thanks Of the Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton should be given the Revd. Ride M.
Dodsworth for his instructive lecture, met with
a response which showed that the time and
care given to the preparation and delivery
of the lecture were not unapprecia ted.